Comic Title: Secret Origins #1
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: 1961
On Sale Date: June 15, 1961 Newsstand Date June 15, 1961
Source: House Ad, Action Comics #278, Page 32

Copyright Date June 15, 1961
Source: Library of Congress, Pamphlets 1961

Cover Price: $0.25
Page Count: 80
Editor: Julius Schwartz

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The Secrets of the Sorcerer's Box"
Pages: 6

Feature(s):
Challengers of the Unknown (of Earth-1)

Writer: Dave Wood
Artist: Jack Kirby

Reprinted From:
Showcase #6 (1957)

Feature Character(s)

• Challengers of the Unknown (origin revealed; next appearance in Showcase #7)
• Ace Morgan (origin and first appearance; last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #31; next appearance in Showcase #7)
• Rocky Davis (origin and first appearance; last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #31; next appearance in Showcase #7)
• Prof. Haley (origin and first appearance; last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #31; next appearance in Showcase #7)
• Red Ryan (origin and first appearance; last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #31; next appearance in Showcase #7)

Other Character(s)

• Morelian (a descendant of Merlin; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• A lifeboat crew (no further appearances)

Comments:
Chap. 2: "Dragon Seed"
Chap. 3: "The Freezing Sun"
Chap. 4: "The Whirling Reaver"

This story features the origin and first appearance of the Challengers of the Unknown.

Only pages 1-6 of the original story are reprinted.

Synopsis:
Four men, Rocky Davis, Ace Morgan, Red Ryan, and Prof. Haley are scheduled to appear on the television show "Heroes". Ace is piloting the plane carrying the men to the show. The plane runs into poor weather, causing it to crash. The men miraculously survive. Red’s watch which should have been destroyed works perfectly, causing Ace to suppose the men are living on "borrowed time". At Prof’s suggestion, the men band together to take more risk as the Challengers of the Unknown.

A request for the daredevil services comes in from Morelian, an alleged descendant of Merlin. His assignment for the Challs is to open a mystic box that has four segments.

On a deserted island, Rocky opens the first compartment. Inside is a giant egg which hatches overnight into a giant humanoid creature. The creature walks across the ocean destroying ships and taking Red in the process. Ace and Prof. pursue the monster which eventually drops Red. Prof. eventually figures that the monster is composed of pure thought and wishes the creature away.

Red is returned to the island where Rocky has opened the second segment of the box. A freezing sun is inside which draws the heat from everything, freezing Rocky. Red manages to trap the sun in a vacuum sealed container.

Ace and Prof. return to the island, and Ace opens the third segment. A device which spins a web of plastic flys out at tremendous speed. The Challs follow the device to Australia, eventually gaining control over it with the container it was originally contained in.

When the Challs return to the island, Morelian has opened the final section of the box. Inside is a ring which supposedly gives him immortality. He flys off in his plane, but quickly crashes down upon the box. The box has what contained the immortality not the ring, which was sudden death.